Stonecrop Garden’s Index: Seminum & Rarium

Seed collecting is a vibrant and valuable part of our work at Stonecrop. Stonecrop staff and interns collect seeds from hundreds of the choicest plants grown in the garden. Whilst much of the seed is used at Stonecrop itself, ensuring the continuity and purity of our own plant collections, a limited quantity of approximately 400 varieties are offered to other gardeners each year, thereby disseminating rare and interesting seeds to the public. Our seed catalogue, or Index Seminum, is a carefully annotated description of each item, which many long-time Stonecrop members keep and use as trusted horticultural references.

This encyclopedic list of plant names and descriptions can seem somewhat daunting. However, the Index Seminum is divided into sections based upon both the type of plants offered and their broad cultural requirements. The categories are:

Each description includes flower colour, bloom time, foliage characteristics, overall height, cultural requirements, and country of origin. Botanical names are checked for accurate nomenclature and common names provided where available. Planting suggestions, interesting botanical facts and field observations are also included.

Pricing is as follows:

Index Seminum – $2 per packet; $1 for members

Index Rarium – $3 per packet; $2 for members

Copy of the Index Seminum/Rarium – $5; no charge for members

Postage for seed orders within the continental US – $5

Please note that Stonecrop Gardens is not in the commercial seed business. Quantities are limited, and orders are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Whilst many of the seeds on offer are garden staples and come from well-established plantings that we harvest year after year, the Index itself is in constant revision. Every year new plants are added as we expand our plant collection and mature plantings begin to produce reliable seed crops. Occasionally plants fail to produce viable seed or are too ephemeral to catch ripening, and must be omitted from the list for that year. Even with the best of intentions, we often cannot get to every ripening seed in the 15 or more acres of gardens. It is always best to place your order early as many seeds do go quickly or are only available in limited quantities. Any item shown that does not have “Add to Basket” button means the seed is sold out.